About
The character "牢" is structurally composed of the roof radical "宀" positioned above the component "牛" meaning cow, which directly points to its original sense as an enclosure or pen for livestock. This concrete meaning of an animal stall gradually extended to denote places of confinement for people, such as prisons or jails. From this usage, the character further developed abstract meanings related to firmness or security, deriving from the concept of being tightly bound or enclosed.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
这个箱子很牢固。
你一定要牢记老师的话。
小鸟被关进了牢笼。
他总是发牢骚，抱怨工作。
这座桥建造得十分牢靠。
他因犯罪而进了牢狱。
他们的友谊是牢不可破的。
在困境中，他为自己牢牢守住了一线希望。